Because, sometimes, the most effective way to say more is to say less. Ultimately, words lock moods, images and concepts into little boxes. And so, the fewer the words, the less confined those things will be. This ambiguity is both primitive and futuristic.

2. What other poetic forms do you enjoy?

Tanka, free verse, ghazals, fiction and creative non-fiction.

3. Of the many wonderful haiku you've written, what do you consider to be your top three? (Please provide original publication credits.)

Tough thing to nail down. Signature poems can be deceiving. What might be deemed my "best" may not be my favorites. But, I suppose, there are some that dip into both realms:

apple blossomsmy grandfather snapshis suspenders

Moonset, 2007

midday heatthe carpenter's tool beltfull of plums

Roadrunner, 2006; Red Moon Anthology, 2006; Reeds, 2007.

in my coat pocketthrough births and deathsthe same empty matchbook

A New Resonance 5, 2007

If you've been enjoying this weekly series and have not contributed, please consider sharing your response to the three little questions that Andrew Riutta answered. You must be a published poet to participate.